Card cutting and stacking machine



APPLICATION FILED lAN.24 1918.

Patented May 9, 1922.

5 SHEET$SHEET 1.

I? (P/17hr Asaac a 6 a #orne s.

I.'WAGEMAKER.

CA RD CUIHNG AND STACKING MACHINE. APPLHFATION mu) mm 1918.

\jdzecufez I. WAGEMAKER.

CARD CUTTING AND STAICKING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED JAN.2, 1918.

1,415,210, Patented May9, 1922.

5 SHEET$-SHEET 3.

' any,

l. WAGE MAKER.

CARD CUTTING AND STAGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.2, 191a.

1,415-,210,- Patented May 9, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- caries.

ISAAC WAGEMAKER, F GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN.

CARD CUTTING AND STAOKING IHACHINE.

This invention relates to a machine for cutting, printing and stacking index guide cards. The present invention relates particularly to various improvements in the mechanism shown and described by me'in my previous application Ser. No. 71,372, filed Jan. 10, 1916. It is one of the objects and purposes of the present invention to provide mechanism automatically actuated by the passage of cards through the machine, said mechanism being associated with the tab printing portion of the machine so as to control the same whereby, when cards pass through the machine, the tab printing por tion of the mechanism is operative; but should any break occur in the passage of the cards, said tab printing portion of the ma chine is automatically rendered inoperative so that it does not work when no card is presented for printing upon its tab, said printing mechanism, however, becoming operative when succeeding cards pass through the machine. Another object and purpose of the present invention resides in a new arrangement 01 the operating means which moves the ring on which the various type characters for printing on the tabs of the cards are fastened so that it is in close proximity to the printing ram; of the machine, the movement of said type ring being more positively controlled with a consequent avoidance of danger of misprint on the tabs which is liable to occur when the actuation of the rim takes place at a considerable distance from the printing ram, as disclosed in my former application. Still further objects and purposes of the invention consist in many novel details of construction of arrangement of the parts to more positively effecting the movements 01? the various parts of the machine, particularly that of the auxiliary printing mechanism disposed at the end of the machine and through which the cards pass before their delivery to a receiv- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1922.

Application filed January 2, 1918 Serial No. 210,056.

ing receptacle in which they automatically stack themselves as delivered from the machine.

All of these features of novelty and utility in construction and operation, together with many others not specifically outlined, will appear as understanding of the invention is had from the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a front view of the tab cutting and printing section of the machine, my improvements being incorporated therein.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, parts being broken away and shown in section, of the automatic controlling mechanism for the printing ram. I

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the lower part of the printing ram and of the mechanism which controls the same.

Fig. 5 1s a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 2,

various'parts of the machine being omitted to more clearly disclose the structure shown.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4:, but with the parts disposed in another relation such 'as they occupy when the printing ram is inoperative.

Fig. 7 is an under plan view of the device shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentarysection and elevationot the type carrying ring and the mechanism for moving the same, together with the means to render said moving means operative, and

Figs. 9 and 10 are side elevations from opposite sides of the machine of "the auxiliary printing mechanism, showing its relation to the main portion of the machine and the driving mechanism therefor.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the various views of the drawings.

In the construction otthe machine a supporting frame is provided, including upright posts 1 which are set at the corners of the frame and. connected by upper and lower longitudinal beams 2 and 3, respectively, and by cross beams 4., whereby a rigid main sup porting trame of rectangular form is made. A table 5 is positioned lengthwise in front of and a distance above the front upper beam 2 oi' the frame, around which pass two endless bolts 6 andv 7, the same running over pulleys 8 at the front end of the machine which are attached to a shaft 9, and around pulleys 10 at the rear end of the table which are fixed to a short shaft 11 as shown. The belts pass underneath the table and are suitably carried under and tensioned by idle pulleys as shown in Fig. 1. Directly above the inner belt 7, a horizontal rod 12 is positioned and supported by bars 13 which in turn are connected. to vertical posts l3 attached to the main frame of the machine. A plurality of pivotally mounted arms 1e are connected to and depend below the rod 12, each carrying a plurality of rollers 15 which rest against the belt 7. The cards entered into the ma chine from the front end thereof run underneath these rollers and are carried by the belts, and yielding pressure of the rollers on the cards may be provided in any desired manner, such for instance as shown in my former application for patent. The second belt (3 is of utility only when wide cards are passed through the machine. A guide bar 16 is disposed lengthwise of the table and may be adjusted back and forth transversely of the table on the guide 17, (see Fig. 2), so that the cards are held true as they pass through the machine.

A. transverse shaft 18 is disposed undereath the upper beams 2 and supported in suitable hearings on the lower beams 3, it being the main driving shaft for the machine. It is driven in any suitable manner,

as by a belt 19 passing around a driving pulley 20 fixed to one end of the shaft. An

endless sprocket chain 21. is carried around a sprocket wheel 22 on. said shaft 18, and also around a smaller sprocket wheel 23 fixed on the end of shaft 9, which is extended the full width of the supporting frame. A shaft 24; is located below and slightly in front of the shaft 9 and a sprocket chain 25, passing around suitable sprocket wheels on shafts 9 and 2a, is used for driving said shaft 24. At its front end shaft 24 carries a wheel or pulley 26 around which. the belt 7 passes. By this mechanism, belts (3 and 7 are driven continuously whenever the machine is in operation.

it shaft 27 is supported in suitable bearings a distance above the main frame of the machine, paralleling and below which is a counter-shaft 28. A sprocket chain 29 passes around sprocket wheels 30 fixed on said shafts, and a sprocket chain 31 also passes around sprocket wheels 32. on shafts 18 and 28 respectively. The wheels 32 on the shafts l8 and 28 are of the same size and, sin'iilarly, wheels 30 on shafts 28 and 27 are of the same size, whereby with each revolution of shaft 18 shaft 27 makes one complete turn. A cam wheel 33 is fixed to the front end of shaft 27 in which a groove 3% is out, leaving an interior cam 35, circular in outline for about live-sixths of its circumference, but with a projecting portion in the remaining one-sixth. as best shown in Fig. 1. A head 36 is carried by said cam wheel 34 and is operated by the cam 35, said head remaining in upper position for the great-er portion of the movement of said wheel 33, but being quickly depressed and then raised during said sixth part of the revolution of the shaft 27. Head 36 is adapted to carry cutting knives to coact with other knives carried on the frame of the machine for cutting the cards which pass through the machine so as to leave a projecting tab at one edge of the card. The specific mechanism for attaining this is fully covered in my former application and forms no part of the present invention and, accordingly, is not specifically shown and described. I

A pinion 37 fixed 0n the front end of shaft 18 meshes with a gear 38 which is located back of a composite cam '39 which has a plurality of separated projections 40. Both the gear and the cam are mounted to move together around a forwardly projecting shaft ll. A series of levers 42 are pivotally mounted between their ends, the lower end of each lever carrying a roller wliichbears against the cam 39, while the upper end of each lever is connected to a horizontal rod as suitably connected, through the interposition of various devices 44L, with vertical stop members 45 which'are adapted to be periodically elevated with the rotation of the cam 39 to stop the card in proper position for cutting in the first instance, and for printing when the card has passed farther through the machine' This mechanism is identical with that shown in my former application and for the specific construction, reference may be had thereto. Likewise, the machine includes a regulating stop e6 connected with one arm of a bell crank lever 47, the other arm thereof being connected with a rod d8 which is adjustably connected in substantial alinement with a rod 49 connected to the upper end of a member 50 which is located vertically and is pivotally connected between its ends at 51 to the plate 52, on which shaft 41 and the shaft for carrying the various levers l2 are supported. An arm depending from member 50 carries a roller 54 which bears against the cam 39 following the surface thereof so as to elevate the regulating stop so once with each revolution of the drive shaft 18. A spring is connected to the rod e9 as shown and has a tendency to force the roller 50 against the cam 39 so thatwhen said roller enters a depressed section in the-cam, the stop d6 is elevated. The regulating stop, together with the stops for cutting and printing of the cards, is shown incidentally only and not in any measure in detail, as the same is no particular part of the present invention, having been fully disclosed in my previous application for patent to which reference has been made.

i The printing mechanism includes a ring 56' which is mounted upon a plurality of rests 57- so that it may be turned in a horizontal plane about its center. A'plurality of pins 58 project upwardly from the ring and are located in spaced apart relation at equal distances from each other. A pawl 59 pivotally' mounted at one end of a bar 60 is adapted to successively" engage with the pins 58. The bar60 is adjustablymounted on a lever 61 pivotally mounted between its ends to any suitable support 62 and connected as indicated at 63 to the upper end of an operating lever 64:, which is positioned substantially vertical and pivotally mountedbetween its ends on any suitable stationary portion of the main supporting frame, its

lower end being operatively associated with a cam wheel 65 fixed to the main drive shaft 18. The rotation of the shaft 18 and of the cam member 65 oscillates operating lever- 64 back and forth thereby moving the pawl 59 back and forth over the ring 56 In one direction of its movement the pawl moves so as to drop behind a pin 58 whereupon one step with each revolution of the shaft 18.

In practice a consecutive series of indicating type characters are fixed on the under side of the typering. The ring in its move ments passes underneath an overhanging abutment 66 which, it will be noted, (see Fig. 2) is located atthe front side'of the machine so as to pass over the ring and adjacent the pawl 59 whlch is positioned near the front side of the machine instead of at the rear as shown in my former application. The location of the ring actuating pawl 59 relatively close to the abutment 66 and the side of member 75 and under the influence 1 printing ram underneath the same, as will be later described, is of valuein that the movement of the ring" is positive and the application of the force to the ringis so near the point where the printing operation occurs th at any vibration or change of p'ositionof the ring under the influence of the mechanism is not nearly as lllrely. to occur as if said actuating; pawl was located half of a circumference away from said printing mechanism. p i

The cards as they are carried by the belts 6 and 7 come underneath the type ring 'directly below the abutment 66 and are stopped properly by the rear stops 4-5, the type having been properly inked in any preferred manner such as described in my previous application. A ram head is forced against the under side of the card bringing the tab thereof into contact with thetype to receive the impression. This'head is carried at the upper end of a rod 67 positioned in front of a plate 69 secured to the main frame of the machine and slidably mountedin a guide 68 secured to said plate 69, a lower part 70 of the ram below the rod and to which said rod is attached, beingformed to fit the guide as shown. At its lower end the part 70 carries a pivotally mounted head 71 having inclined angular under faces immediately.

below which is a disc 7 2 fixed on the shaft 18, atone point in the clrcumference of which a roller 7 8 is mounted, 1t being adapted to come underneath the head 71 and elevate the ram as therotation occurs, provided-said head 71 is located directly above the disc. The elevation of the ram presses the upper head againstthe under side of the tab and effects the printing operation."

member 74 is located directly back of the supporting plate 69 being provided with an upper extension 7 t for attachment there- Guides are formed in the member 74 on its under side, between'which a plate 75 is slidably mounted. Coil springs 76 interposed between the plate and member 741- tend to move said plate to the rear. Links 77 are disposed between and pivotally connected to the head'7-1 and the plate 7 5 and, normally, under the influence of the. spring 76, the head 71 is'drawn to the rear and occupies the position substantially that shown in Fig. 4.

A hollow sleeve 78 passes through and is secured to the member 75 extending a dis- .tance above the same and through an elongated slot 7 9 cut in the member 7 4-. Immediately below the member 74: the sleeve 78 is provided in one side-with a slot 80.

Within said sleeve cylindrical member 81 is loosely mounted which, adjacent its lower end has an annular groove 82 cut around it, below whichthe cylinder terminates in a cylindrical head 83. A levercatch 84 is pivotally mounted at one end on the-under of a coil spring 85 is drawn into the slot in the sleeve 7 8, normally remaining therein. At its free end lever 84: is turned downwardly making a lip 86 which extends into the path of movement of a lug 87' formed inposition as shown in Fig. 1 and held in such position, the lever 8 1 enters the groove 82 in aid cylinder and the lug" 87 passing; there.

by has no effect on any of the mechanism eiicept the bar 841 which is drawn out of the slot 8() permitting, under certain conditions. hereafter described. the member 81 to drop to theposition shown in Fig. 8 whereby on the next passage of lug 87 it engages against the lower portion of said member 81 below" the sleeve 78 and momentarily moves the slide to theposition shown in Fig. 6

carrying the head 71 forward so that it is.

not acted upon by the roller 73 which is designedto pass underneath the head 71 during the time that it is in forward position. Under such conditions it is apparent no upward movement of the printing ram will take place.

Normally,l'the cylindrical member 81 is designed to occupy the upper position shown fixed'connection between its ends to a rod 94 loosely mounted in a stirrup 95 fastened to and supported on the under side of a bar 96 projecting forwardly from one of the posts 13 heretofore described as supporting the bars 13 which in turn carry the rod 12.

Rod 94 is located substantially horizontal and transverse of the machine directly back A lever 97 1s secured at one of the table 5. end thereof to the front end of the rod 94,

I the opposite end of said lever having connection through a link 98 with the rear end of a bar 99 which parallels the table at a point slightly above the inner belt 7 for a distance and is then turned upwardly andv secured to a stationary bar 100 connected to any suitable stationary portion of the ma chine, in practice the supports which carry the bearings for the. shaft 27 being used as a support forthe bar 100. The bar 99 carries a shoe 99 which projects slightly below the same and is in substantial contact with the upper side of the inner carrying belt 7.

The weight of the parts is substantially counter-balanced by a weight 101. adjustably attached to the other end of the lever 93 such weight however permitting the member 81 to drop to the position shown in Fig. 3

any time that a card does not pass under the shoe 99 and when the latch '84 has been moved to free said member 81.

VVith' the cards passing continuously through the machine, as they pass under the shoe 99 the effect is to maintain the member 81in its upper position. If, however, there is a break in the feeding so that a card does not pass through the machine, the shoe 99 and attached bar 99 are permitted to drop slightly, whereupon the eye 91 engaging with the head. 90 is also permitted to drop, so that with the disengagement of the latch lever 84 from the groove 82 the member 81 lowers to the position shown in Fig. 3. N0rmally with the continuous feed of cards through the machine, a card passes underneath the shoe 99* during the time latch lever 84 is disengaged and returned to position in the slot 80, which card is the next succeeding card printed on upward move- .ment of the ram, which movement is designed to occur as the card reaches andis stopped under the abutment 66. If a card does not pass through, however, and does not hold the parts in upper position, the dis-.

engagement of the latch lever is followed at once by the dropping of the cylindrical member 81 to the position shown in Fig. 3, whereupon, on the next rotation of the disc 88, lug 87 engages with the lower portion of said cylindrical member 81 moving the slide forward as previously described and simultaneously moving the head 71 to inoperative position so that no upward printing stroke of the ram occurs when no card is between the ram and the type carrying ring. This is a very desirable feature for, if successive upward strokes of the ramshould continue whether or not a, card was between the ram and the type ring, when a card was not present the head of the ram would come in contact with the type and receive a wet impression thereon, which, when the next card came along,

would be transmitted to the back of such card, making an unsightly appearance and a defective card, necessitating its replacement in the pack byanother. In many instances the feeding ofthe cards into the machine is interrupted or the feedingmechanism runs out of a supply of cards, whereupon the 1 printing ram is automatically rendered ineffectiveas described. It will be'apparent however that as soon as a card passes ratchet wheels 102 all mounted on a shaft 7 011 the end of which is secured a disc 103. A connecting bar 104 is interposed between the oscillating lever 64 and a. plate 105 slidably mounted below the ratchet wheels on which a plurality of dogs 105 are adj ustably mounted, any one of which may be brought into engagement with its associated ratchet wheel and only one of which at a time is to be brought in engagementwith a ratchet wheel during the working of the machine. The effect thereof is to turn the shaft on which the ratchet wheels are mounted with a step by step rotation causing a consequent turning of the disc 103, whereby a projection 106 on the side of the disc is brought under a head 107 secured at the end of a lever 108 pivotally mounted between its ends as shown, to the opposite end of which, one end of a link 109 is pivotally connected, its front end having similar connection to the lower end of an upright lever 110 pivotally which is pivotally mounted at its rear edge on a horizontal pivot pin 114 likewise supported by thepost 111. This plate extends toward "the type ring 56 and under a rear wardly projecting arm 115 attached to the pawl 59. The action of the levers and links described causes a lifting of the forward edge of plate 113 whereby the end of pawl 59 is raised above the upper ends of pins 58. Accordingly, when the. projection 106 engages with the head 10? the movement of the feeding lever 61 continues but on account of the disengagement of the pawl 59 from the pins 58 no movement of the, type ring takes place; This mechanism is a slight modification of that described in my former application and is necessitated by reason of the fact that the engagement-0f the operating pawl with the type ring is at the front instead of at the'rear thereof as before.

The cards as they pass from the rear end of the table, after havingb'een cut and printed on the tabs thereof, pass to an auxiliary printing mechanism which is located directly back of the rear end of the table, being shown at 116 as mounted above any suitable supporting frame 117. In this auxiliary printing mechanism any suitable name, advertisement, or the like may be printed on the bodies of the cards and in structure and operation said auxiliary printing mechanism is substantially identical with that described in my former application. I have interposed, however, between the end of the table and the printing cylinders of said printing mechanism, feed rolls which are driven by a sprocket chain 118 passing around a sprocket wheel 119 on the drive shaft 18 and a small sprocket wheel 119 connected at one end to the lower of said feed rolls. In addition the drive of the auxiliary printing mechanism is pro vided by a shaft 120 on the forward end of which is a worm 121 in mesh with a worm gear 122 fixed to the drive shaft 18, while at its rear end it carries a worm 123 in mesh with a worm gear 124 fixed to a shaft .125 between which, and the remainder of the auxiliary printing mechanism, suitable gears 126 are interposed for driving the same. This method of drive is more positive and satisfactory than that previously used, the chain used in my former application for driving the auxiliary printing mechanism together with the various tighteners for the same being eliminated with a considerable simplification of the mechanism and elimination of various parts which are liable to wear and become noisy and otherwise undesirable.

ing ring closely adjacent to the point at From the foregoing, it will be apparent that l have made i-arious imprm'ements in machines of the character described, the one relating to the automatic stopping of the operations of the printing ram being of the greatest importance. With these improve inents applied to my machine a better and more uniform product is obtained, without the danger of printing impressions on the backs of the tabs of the cards and with a positive positioning of the index characters on the tabs of the cards due tothe location otthe OP' JFZttlDQ device for the printch the tab printing takes place. In wise, the feedingrolls interposed bemreen the end of the table and the printing portion of the auxiliary printing mechanism, feed the cards positively into the auxiliary printing mechanism so that the prints received on .the bodies of the cards are uni-- formly placed. "All of these features are of importanceas helps toward the production of a more uniform and perfect product.

I claim I 1. In machine of the character described, a horizontal table, an endless belt adapted to carry cards or like article's running lengthwise of and around the table, a ertically mounted reciprocable' printing raniilocated back of the belt, a head pivotally depending from the lower end of the ram, a: slide mounted 101l101lZOIltal sliding movements back of said head, links connecting the slide and head, springs connected to the slide normally holding it in rear position with the head. located directly below the ram, a drive shaft, means interposed between said. shaft and the head. at the lower end of the ram for'clevating said ram once with each revolution of the shaft, and means controlled by the pars sage of cards to the ram for controlling the position of said head on the ram substant-ially as described.

2. In amachine of the character described, a support, a horizontal table attached to the support, an endless belt running around the table lengthwise thereof, and adapted to carry cards or like articles lengthwise of the table, a drive shaft, means for driving the belt from the drive shaft, a vertical ram slidably mounted on the support back of and below the belt, a head pivotally depending from the lower end of the ram, a disc secured to the drive shaft below the head, a

roller thereon adapted to engage with said head to elevate the ram once with each revolution of the drive shaft, a guide member attached to the support and extending to the rear back of said head, a slide mounted to slide back and forth on the guide member, link connections between the slide and head, yielding means normally holding the slide in rear position with said head directly above the disc, a hollow sleeve carried by the slide,

said sleeve having a slot in one side atva point under the slide, a lever pivotally mounted on the under side of the slide, means yieldingly holding the lever in the slot of said sleeve, a lip depending from the free end has been disengaged therefrom by said lug,

said means including an operating device located over the belt to ride thereagainst and be elevated by the passage of cards thereunder, thereby holding said cylindrical member in upper position when cards pass thereunder and permitting it to drop in the absence of such cards, the lug on said second disc engaging therewith to operate the slide forwardly and move the head away from the first disc, substantially as described.

. 3; In a machine of the character described, a vertically reciprocating ram, a head pivotally depending therefrom, a drive shaft, a cam thereon adapted to engage with the head to elevate the ram on rotation of the shaft, a slide mounted to move toward and away from the ram, link vconnections between the slide and said head, springs connected to the slide holding the same in rear position with said head above the cam, a hollow vertical sleeve through the slide having a slot in one side thereof helowthe slide, a spring actuated lever pivotally connected to the slide and entered into said slot, alip'depending from the free end of the lever, a disc on the drive shaft, a lug projecting therefrom and adapted to pass partially under the lower end of the sleeve and to engage with said lip on rotation of the shaft, a cylindrical member loosely mounted in the sleeve and provided with an annular groove near its lower end into which said. lever enters when said member is in upper position, arelatively stationary support, a second shaft loosely mounted thereon, a lever connectedto one end of the shaft, a link pivotally mounted at and depending from an end of the lever, a rod terminating in a head projecting above the cylindrical member around which said link is loosely turned, a second lever fixed to the opposite end of the second shaft, link depending from the free end of the lever, a bar pivotally connected at one end to 'the lower end of said link and extending back under said second lever, and a fixed support to which the opposite end of said bar is pivotally connected, all substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ISAAC WAGEMAKER. 

